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Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,675.

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FILED AUG.29, 1919.

W "M EMT/.7 5. 4 KMLQ/ 4M1 Patented Feb, lQES,

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SEXTUS A. EDDINS, or isnooir'ron, AND WILLIAM H. BAYNARD, or BOSTON,.MASSA CHUSETTS.

IiAsr.

Application filed August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,686.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Snzvrus A. EnnINs and WVILLIAM H. BAYNAPD, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Brockton, Massachusetts, and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively, have invented an Improvement in Lasts, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Our present invention is an improved and novel form of last for use in making shoes, particularly oxfords, pumps and low cut shoes.

In the manufacture of so-called cut boots, such as Oxfords, pumps and the like; and in fact such shoes where the upper cannot be laced across the last, great difiiculty has heretofore been experienced in holding the upper materials on the last in proper shape during the pulling-over and lasting. The lasting operation necessarily, results in straining and stretching the leather around the edge of the sole or insole, to last the. shoe, and in the making of low cut shoes, exfords, pumps or the like, it has been one tomary to tack the edge of the upper materials onto the last at a plurality of points between the throat of the vamp and the heel,

in order to hold the upper against the lasting pull. This prior operation of tacking the upper materials, ,whether directly through the upper or through the lining, an extra holding strip or the like, has necessitated repeated handling by thev operator, considerable expense, damage to the shoe and was entirely unsatisfactory in practice. Our invention aims to obviate the above difficulties and to enable shoes of this type to be made without injury, without tacking, without distorting the upper during the lasting, and in fact to hold the upper materials in alinement on the last and to resist the pull of the lasting operation and therefore to obtain a better fitting shoe, more perfect lasting, and to simplify, expedite and improve the method of making su h shoes,

In carrying out our invention, we prefer to employ a novel type of upper holding device which may be attached to any last, being preferably a part of the last, although readily attachable thereto and detachable therefrom. Our improved last with the upper clamping devices thereon may be of any form, style, size or make, the invention bemg equally applicable to block lasts, solid lasts, hinge lasts, or the like. Furthermore our clamping apparatus may be applied to existing lasts, with adaptability.

We believe that it is a distinct novelty in the art of making low shoes, oxfords, pumps, and the like, as well as in the art of making and using lasts, to provide means to hold the upper materials of such shoes onto the lasts by instantly attachable means which will hold the upper in alinement, resisting the lasting strains, protecting the up per and maintaining it uninjured, quickly releasing the shoe materials when the last mg is completed and which is readily in position for use on a succeeding shoe. Furthermore these clamping devices hold the upper throughout a substantial distance as distinguished from the present method when tacks are applied, thus insuring even lasting, fitting and stretchingof the leather, while holding the upper materials in desired alinement and shape on the last;

. Referring to the drawings illustrating our improved last, novel type of clamp, and showing the process of lasting- I Fig. l is a perspective view of one type of clamp which may be employed;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a pump shoe on the last with the clamp holding same in position; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a last 1 is illustrated in conventional form; on which shoe upper materials 2 are assembled, such shoe being of the low cut, oxford, or pump type. .A sole or insole 3 is also, illustrated, such shoes being either ofthe turn, welt, or Mcperfect ease, facility, and

Kay type-usually turns, or weltsand,

therefore as illustrated in the drawing, 3 indicates an insole. VVith' the insole and upper thus assembled the upper materials are lasted, i. e., pulled over, and the marginal edge of the insole around the forepart and shank are secured thereto by lasting tacks driven partly into the insole 3 and last, as indicated at 4c, 41-. It is this lasting action on such a type of pumps which has been so difficult heretofore to perform, the topmost edge of the upper materials 5 being substantially unsupported from the throat of the vamp 6 to the heel 7. When lasting a laced or buttoned shoe, the upper materials are held across the top of cone oil? the last and thereby resist the pull of the lasting operation but the type oi? shoe herein considered, the 5 has no means to hold against the last without additional attachment to the last. Uur invention contemplates the use of attachable and detachable clamping devices, quickly operable, to engage and hold the ed e 5 ot the upper materials on each side oi the last, at a substantial width, without injuring; the upper and independently ot the manual'tacking operations, etc. above briefly explained. Such a clamp may be temporarily or permanently secured to the last 1 and preferably is quickly operable by any suitable mechanical means.

The drawings illustrate a simple form of our clamp and to fit the same to the last 1 a recess 10 is bored through the cone of the last at a sufiicientheight to be above the edge 5 of the upper materials of a shoe in tended to be made thereon. Through this recess 10 the clamp may be fitted comprising, here shown, a sleeve 12 internally threaded to receive correspondingly threaded bolt 14, the latter having a head 15 with a beveled face 16 adapted to bear against a clamp plate 17. The sleeve 12 carries a handle 18. also having its inner surface formed as a beveled face 19 to bear against the clamping plate 20. Partial rotation of the handle 18 acts to lengthen or to shorten the combined bolt formed by the members 12 and 1a and thereby to tighten or release the clamps 17 and 20 against the sides of the last 1 or against the marginal portion 5 ol the upper materials 2 on said last.

In operation, a clamping apparatus may be attached to each last and the upper and insole assembled thereon, the edge portion 5 of the upper on each side of the last being fitted under the clamp plates 1'? and 20 while the latter are loose, the members 12 and 14: beingin extended position. The upper can thus be alined properly on the last and usually a tack 21 applied to the heel. Thereupon the handle 18 is manipulated to clamp the sides of the upper firmly on the last, whereupon it is ready for the side lasting operation, driving of the tacks at and completion. of the shoe. If desired, the clamp may be entirely detached from the last and applied to another last and, if desired, the shoe upper may firstbe applied to the last and then the clamp fitted thereto to clamp and hold the upper. While we have illustrated our type of clamp to include the threaded arrangement shown in the members 12 and 14?, we contemplate the use of cams, or any other mechanically equivalent means to quickly tighten and loosen the clamps 17 and 20also to form these clamps of such length and contour as may best carry out the invention on particular lasts or goods.

Our present invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. A. last for use in the manutacture of low cut shoes having clamping apparatus adapted to engage and hold the topmost edge of the shoe upper materials on each side of the last and means to actuate said clampinp; apparatus to hold or to release said upper material.

2. A. last for use in the manufacture of low cut shoes having clamping apparatus adapted to engage and hold the topmost edge of the shoe upper materials on each side ot the last by compression and means to actuate said clamping; apparatus to hold or to release said upper material.

A last 01' the kind desc-ibed including clamping; apparatus adapted to be attached to the last substantially midway of the length oi the cone thereof and having clampdevices arranged on opposite sides of the to engage and clamp the topmost edge of the shoe upper materials to the sides of the last, and means to actuate said devices to clamp the shoe upper to the last or to release the same therefrom, on opposite sides of the last simultaneously.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SEXTUS A. EDDINS. WILLIAM H. BAYNARD. ll itnessesz R. G. SWAIN,

Earn; K. STEELE. 

